It was, Roy Hodgson conceded, “an expensive day” for Fulham. Premier League
defeat to Stoke City amid a swirling snowstorm, a reoccurrence of Brede
Hangeland’s knee injury and, perhaps of even greater concern, an injury to
Bobby Zamora.

Out in the cold: Bobby Zamora is led from the Britannia Stadium pitch as Fulham lost more than just the game in freezing conditions against Stoke CityPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By Sandy Macaskill

11:52AM GMT 06 Jan 2010

Fulham will now wait on scans to determine the full extent of the damage to Zamora, who suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder after a meaty second-half collision with Abdoulaye Faye.

If it is anything like collarbone injury sustained by team-mate Andrew Johnson, the 28 year-old could be out for three weeks, which would be considered a blessing. If it is his shoulder, however, it could be longer.

"It's certainly not a short-term injury,” Hodgson said. “I can only hope that the prognosis is not too bad.

"It is a dislocation - I don't know whether it is a collarbone or a shoulder but either way it is a bad injury. It's very disappointing because he has been playing very well. It is a very expensive day for us.

"We were forced to replace Brede Hangeland at half-time with a recurrence of his knee injury and we lost Zamora early in the second half. We have also lost the game.”

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With important games in the league and Europe in the near future, with Shakhtar Donetsk looming in the next round of the Europa League on 18 February, the latest injuries come as quite a blow, especially as John Pantsil suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in their last league game.

“We're not being fortunate on the injury front this season," Hodgson admitted.

Fulham were not the only ones left counting the cost of Tuesday night’s match. Stoke City will also be on tenterhooks to discover the fate of Tuncay, who limped off after 42 minutes with a hamstring injury. The Turkish forward will undergo a scan today.